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Special projects assistant salary
Average special projects assistant salary
$36,997
Understanding the Salary of a Special Projects Assistant
The average salary for a Special Projects Assistant stands at $36,997 per year, or approximately $18 per hour. Compensation can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and the industry in which one works. Special Projects Assistants are often employed in diverse sectors including non-profits, corporations, and educational institutions, each offering different salary ranges.
For instance, states like California and New York typically report higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Furthermore, those with specialized skills or experience in project management may command higher pay. Job seekers should consider these variables when evaluating potential positions.
Additionally, the role offers opportunities for career advancement into project management or administrative leadership positions. Understanding the salary landscape can empower candidates to negotiate their pay effectively and align their career goals with market trends.
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Where can a Special Projects Assistant earn more?
Special projects assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average special projects assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for special projects assistants are New York, Rhode Island, and Delaware. The lowest average special projects assistant salary states are Florida, Idaho, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for special projects assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $56,689 | $27.25 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $47,223 | $22.70 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $50,833 | $24.44 |
| 4 | Delaware | $55,108 | $26.49 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $55,506 | $26.69 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $54,315 | $26.11 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $48,620 | $23.38 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $43,352 | $20.84 |
| 9 | Vermont | $43,206 | $20.77 |
| 10 | Ohio | $39,008 | $18.75 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $53,913 | $25.92 |
| 12 | Illinois | $40,887 | $19.66 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $40,070 | $19.26 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $44,284 | $21.29 |
| 15 | Alaska | $37,911 | $18.23 |
| 16 | Missouri | $35,890 | $17.25 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $36,674 | $17.63 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $35,211 | $16.93 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $39,576 | $19.03 |
| 20 | Arizona | $35,815 | $17.22 |
| 21 | Maine | $41,459 | $19.93 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| 23 | Michigan | $35,917 | $17.27 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $34,491 | $16.58 |
| 25 | Washington | $37,289 | $17.93 |
| 26 | Virginia | $41,996 | $20.19 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $37,780 | $18.16 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $36,497 | $17.55 |
| 29 | Indiana | $35,388 | $17.01 |
| 30 | Maryland | $41,425 | $19.92 |
| 31 | Utah | $33,813 | $16.26 |
| 32 | Oregon | $34,031 | $16.36 |
| 33 | Texas | $35,641 | $17.14 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $36,835 | $17.71 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $34,669 | $16.67 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $32,556 | $15.65 |
| 37 | Colorado | $34,848 | $16.75 |
| 38 | Iowa | $34,803 | $16.73 |
| 39 | Montana | $32,754 | $15.75 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $33,281 | $16.00 |
| 41 | Alabama | $34,437 | $16.56 |
| 42 | Nevada | $32,615 | $15.68 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $29,496 | $14.18 |
| 44 | Georgia | $34,286 | $16.48 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $30,762 | $14.79 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $32,967 | $15.85 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $30,575 | $14.70 |
| 48 | Idaho | $30,782 | $14.80 |
| 49 | California | $33,085 | $15.91 |
| 50 | Florida | $31,341 | $15.07 |
| 51 | Kansas | $29,879 | $14.36 |
Highest paying cities for special projects assistants
The highest-paying cities for special projects assistants are New York, NY, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, PA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $57,106 | $27.45 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $54,413 | $26.16 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,029 | $23.09 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $43,062 | $20.70 |
| 5 | Suitland, MD | $41,228 | $19.82 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $41,062 | $19.74 |
| 7 | Westlake, OH | $40,245 | $19.35 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $39,718 | $19.10 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $38,635 | $18.57 |
| 10 | Columbia, SC | $37,978 | $18.26 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $36,662 | $17.63 |
| 12 | Edinburg, TX | $35,933 | $17.28 |
| 13 | Ann Arbor, MI | $35,805 | $17.21 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $34,848 | $16.75 |
| 15 | Terre Haute, IN | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $34,265 | $16.47 |
| 17 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,764 | $16.23 |
| 18 | Pleasanton, CA | $33,000 | $15.87 |
| 19 | Billings, MT | $32,847 | $15.79 |
| 20 | Coral Gables, FL | $31,289 | $15.04 |
Special projects assistant salary details
A special projects assistant's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $54,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a special projects assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| Average | $36,997 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying special projects assistant jobs
The highest paying types of special projects assistants are instruction assistant principal, special projects coordinator, and academic assistant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Para Educator | $31,394 | $2,616 | $15.09 | 56,897 |
| Student Internship | $31,256 | $2,605 | $15.03 | 55,578 |
| Teacher Aide | $29,480 | $2,457 | $14.17 | 106,207 |
| Special Projects Coordinator | $44,576 | $3,715 | $21.43 | 30,262 |
Top companies hiring special projects assistants now:
Which companies pay special projects assistants the most?
Special projects assistant salaries at Urban Institute and Department of Homeland Security are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average special projects assistant salary at companies like New York State Restaurant Association and High Point Christian Academy are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Institute | $60,863 | $29.26 |
| 2 | Department of Homeland Security | $53,132 | $25.54 |
| 3 | New York State Restaurant Association | $51,858 | $24.93 |
| 4 | High Point Christian Academy | $49,075 | $23.59 |
| 5 | Emory University | $48,826 | $23.47 |
| 6 | Virginia Commonwealth University | $43,741 | $21.03 |
| 7 | Counterpart International | $43,279 | $20.81 |
| 8 | The University of Kansas Health System | $42,279 | $20.33 |
| 9 | The City University of New York | $41,177 | $19.80 |
| 10 | Robbinsdale Area Schools | $41,156 | $19.79 |
| 11 | UTRGV - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | $39,576 | $19.03 |
| 12 | University of Michigan | $39,155 | $18.82 |
| 13 | Democracy Prep Public Schools | $37,783 | $18.16 |
| 14 | Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City | $37,469 | $18.01 |
| 15 | General Dynamics | $36,252 | $17.43 |
| 16 | Center for Urban Community Services | $36,214 | $17.41 |
| 17 | Dietz & Watson | $36,047 | $17.33 |
| 18 | Aledade | $35,659 | $17.14 |
| 19 | University of Maine | $34,500 | $16.59 |
| 20 | Worthington Schools | $33,850 | $16.27 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Special Projects Assistant salary by industry
The average special projects assistant salary varies across industries:
- The average special projects assistant salary in the government industry is $47,158, the highest of any industry.
- The average special projects assistant salary in the finance industry is $41,472.
- Special projects assistants in the media industry earn an average salary of $33,160, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for special projects assistants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $47,158 | $22.67 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $41,472 | $19.94 |
| 3 | Professional | $39,517 | $19.00 |
| 4 | Technology | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| 5 | Education | $37,198 | $17.88 |
| 6 | Retail | $34,076 | $16.38 |
| 7 | Media | $33,160 | $15.94 |
High paying special projects assistant jobs
Special projects assistant salary trends
The average special projects assistant salary has risen by $6,792 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average special projects assistant earned $30,205 annually, but today, they earn $36,997 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for special projects assistants over the last decade.
Compare special projects assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average special projects assistant salary over time
Compare special projects assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Special projects assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,000 | $17.79 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $35,700 | $17.18 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $34,500 | $16.61 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $33,600 | $16.17 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | $32,500 | $15.65 | +2.0% |
Recently added special projects assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Olaf College | Cbws City of Northfield Community Development Special Projects Assistant | Northfield, MN | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Erie Community College | Special Projects-Human Resources/Legal | Buffalo, NY | 06/24/2025 | $60,000 |
| Therapy and Beyond | Pediatric Special Needs Assistant | Jenks, OK | 06/14/2025 | $37,566 |
| Therapy and Beyond | Pediatric Special Needs Assistant | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/14/2025 | $37,566 |
| Billings Public Schools | Special Needs Assistants (SNA) | Billings, MT | 06/13/2025 | $35,750 |
| Farmers Union Industries | Special Projects Construction | Long Prairie, MN | 06/03/2025 | $67,118 |
| Civic Joy Fund | Special Projects Assistant | San Francisco, CA | 05/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| St. Olaf College | Cbws City of Northfield Community Development Special Projects Assistant | Northfield, MN | 05/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Bastrop Independent School District | Stars Site Assistant, Special Needs (Summer) (8282) | Bastrop, TX | 05/21/2025 | $33,392 |
| Farmers Union Industries | Special Projects Construction | Long Prairie, MN | 05/04/2025 | $67,118 |
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